Cigarette or cigar lighter



B. L. PoLKosNlK CIGARETTE ,OR CIGAR LIGHER April so, w46.

IFiled Feb. 4, 1944 ruummwfnlmm Patented Apr. 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE R CIGAR LIGHTER Bernard L. Polkosnik, Bridgeport, Conn. Application February 4, 1944, serial No. 521,087

(C1. frz-7.1)'

12 Claims.

This invention relates to cigarette or cigar lighters, and as illustrated is applied to a structure commonly called a pocket lighter, although the principles of the invention are applicable to lighters for various uses.

Cigar and cigarette lighters ordinarily comprise a container for the fuel or uid, and a Wick projecting outwardly from th'e container. Adjacent this wick is mounted a flint or other spark-emitting substance, which is engaged by an abradant wheel, so that when the whee1 is rotated a spark will be thrown upon the wick to ignite the fuel carried by the latter.

A snuier is provided to normally rest upon the wick, the function of the snuffer being not only to extinguish the iiame but also to prevent evaporation of the fuel when the lighter is not in use, In many lighters of this character a spring is employed to hold the snuffer in its operative position upon the wick, and some means are provided to move the snuier away from the wick prior to the operation of the abradant wheel so that the wick will be exposed to be ignited by the spark. If the snuifer is held over the wick by spring pressure it means that this pressure must be overcome by the user when the snuier is raised to expose the wick for lighting. For this reason the spring pressure holding th'e snulier in position is usually very light, and as a result evaporation of the lighting fluid or fuel often occurs,

In the present device there is provided means for latching the snuffer in its closed or operative position, and while the snuier cap is held against the wick by a spring, this spring assists rather than opposes the movement of the structure to ropen position, Also th'e latch member is arranged to move relatively t0 the support for the snuier cap, and is spring pressed to a protracted position, or a position to engage a strike plate or shoulder on the lighter itself, to be latched securely in closed position. In addition, the arrangement is such that the operator, by a continuous movement, releases the latch member, raises the snuiTer cap from its position over thewick, and rotates the abradant wheel, whereby the lighter may be held in and readily operated by the 1ingers of one hand of the user and by one continuous movement.

One object of the invention is to provide a lighter for cigars or cigarettes, of novel and improved construction. y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette or cigar lighter in which the snuifer will be positively latched in closed position to prevent evaporation of the lighting fluid.-

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cigar or cigarette lighter having a snuiier cap positively latched in closed position, wherein the latch may be withdrawn from engagement with its keeper, and the snuler cap moved away from the wick which it covers by a continuous movement and by the lingers of the same hand of the user in which the lighter is held,

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cigar or cigarette lighter of the type described, in which a latch member is mounted upon the snuiier structure to latch th'e latter positively in closed position, vthe latch member beingvarranged for movement relatively to the snuifer structure, whereby it may be withdrawn for engagement with its keeper by the same movement which effects the movement of the snufer cap to its open position.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described'and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of a cigar or cigarette lighter embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View oi the lighter, slightly enlarged;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper portion of the lighter on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View on line 4 4 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the latch member, certain parts being broken away for the sake of clearness; and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a part of the snuier mechanism, certain parts being broken away for the sake of clearness.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown in Fig. l of the drawing a lightercomprising a body portion Ill, which may be conveniently made from sheet metal, the body portion providing the usual fuel chamber II and having at one side thereof a tubular portion I2 in which may be mounted a flint I 3 urged upwardly by the spring I4, the tension of which may be adjusted by the screw I5. The fuel chamber is closed by the cap I6 at the bottom, and is closed at the top by a cover member I'I having a domedportion I8 provided with a central opening through which extends the wick I9.

Projectingrearwardly from the upper portion of the body IIJ of the lighter are a pair of spaced ears 2'I in whichis mounted va pin 22, upon .which pin is rotatably 'carriedan 'abradant wheel 23' in position to engage the upper end of the flint I3. The wheel 23, as shown, is provided with a knurled or serrated peripheral surface 24 in engagement with the upper end of the int so as tc produce the required sparks and throw these sparks upon the wick I9 when the wheel is rotated.

Also pivotally mounted upon the pin 22 is a snuffer structure which will now be described. This structure comprises a body portion 25 of box-like form, having rearwardly projecting ears or arms 26 provided with'perforations -21 to receive the pin 22. This structure may also conveniently be made of sheet metal, which is blanked out and folded to the required shape. The lower Wall or bottom of the box member 25 is provided with an opening 28 through which projects the stem 29 of the snuffer cap 30, which is designed,

as shown in Fig. 3, to embrace the wick I9 and rest on its lower peripheral edge on the dome I8 of the cover I1 of the fuel chamber Il, so as to eifectively seal the space about the wick and prevent evaporation of the fuel. f

The stem 29 is provided with an annular shoulder 3i against which bears the lower end of a compression spring 32 acting at its upper end upon the upper portion 33,01 the hollow box 25, so that the action of the spring 33 will keep the snuffer cap 30 in engagement `with the dome I8. It will also be seen that the reaction of the spring against the upper portion of the box 25 will tend to rotate this portion'of the snuffel` structure upwardly about the pin 22.

In order to latch the snuffer structure in closed position so thatthe spring 32 will be effective to perform its function, I provide a latch member, shown in perspective view in Fig. 6 of the drawing. This member is similar in form to the body of the snuler structure, and comprises a box-like portion 35 and rearwardly projecting spaced ears 36, which ears are provided with registering inclined slots 31 designed to receive the pin' 22, so that this latch member is rotatably and also slidably mounted on this pin, which, it will be recalled, also rotatably or pivotally mounts the snuffer structure and the abradant wheel. The ears 36 are also provided with laterally turned portions 38, which, as shown'in Fig. 3,'Vare positioned adjacent the upper portion of the abradant wheel 23, and extend outwardly from the ears 35 so that the abradant wheel will not be covered but will be exposed for engagement by the nger or thumb of the operator at the same time that the fingerpieces 38 are engaged.

The box-like portion 35 is slightly larger than the similarly shaped portion 25 of the snuffer member, and the latter, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is contained within the former, the ears 26 projecting rearwardly between the ears 36. At its lower portion the box-like member 35 is provided with inwardly turned flanges 39 underlying the portion 25 so as to retain these parts in assembled position.

As the portion 35'is larger, particularly with regard toits length or horizontal dimension, than the member 25, and due to the provision of the elongated slots 31 in the ears 36,'the latch member is permitted movement relatively to the snuffer member. A spring 40 is disposed between the forward walls of the box-like portions 25 and 35 so that the latch member is normally urged to a forward or protracted position, or toward the left, as shown in Fig. 3. However, the spring will permit movement of the latch member rearwardly With relation to the snuifer mem-ber when a rear-V ward and downward force is exerted on the members 38. Upon the front wall of the member 35 is provided a beveled latching bolt or lug 4I, adapted, as shown in Fig. 3, to engage below a keeper 42 when the snuier is latched in closed position. The keeper member 42 may be conveniently formed by merely striking a lip inwardly from the front wall of the sheet metal body or case I0.

It will be apparent that when the parts are in closed position, as shown in Fig. 3, and as they will be when the lighter is not in use, the snuffer K member will be positively latched in closed position by the engagement of the latch lug 4l with the lip or keeper 42. At this time the spring 32 will effectively hold the snufer in tight contact with the dome I8 of the cover I1 of the fuel chamber, so that evaporation of the fuel will be prevented and there will be no danger of the snuffer cap being jarred loose through handling or while the lighter is beingcarried in the pocket.

When the user wishes to light the wick he placeshis thumb or finger above the abradant wheel just to the left of the members 33, as shown in Fig. 3, and exerts pressure rearwardly and downwardly upon these members and upon the abradant wheel. This pressure first serves to' move the members 36 downwardly and rearwardly upon the pin 22, as permitted by the slots 31, and by compressing the spring 43 withdraws the latching lug 4l from engagement with 'the keeper. Continued movement of the thumb swings the snuffel structure upwardly aboutthe pin 22 Soas to expose the wick i9, which movement is assisted by the reaction of the spring 32. At the time that the snuffer structure is swung upwardly, the abradant wheel will be rotated by contact of the thumb therewith, and av Spark will be thrown against the wick to ignitev the same. After use of the lighter the snuffel' structure is closed manually by pressure of the Y fingers or thum-b thereon, the beveled latch member passing the lip-42 by compressing the spring 4U, and the parts will be securely latched in closed position and the flame extinguished by the snuffer cap 30. f

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be under-4 stood that it is not to be limited to all of the de# tails shown, but is capable of modication and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes, or the like, said lighter having a body providing a fuel cham'- ber, means on said body for supporting a iiint, an abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the flint, a snuifer carrier pivotally attached to the body, a latch mem'- ber holding said snuifer carrier inl closed position and pivoted to the body coincidently with said carrier, operating means for said latch member adjacent said wheel, and means mounting said latch member for translatory movement with in operative relation to the flint, a snuffer carrier pivotally attached to the body, a latch member holding said snuifer carrier in closed posi tion and pivoted to the body coincidently with said carrier, operating means for said latch memi ber adjacentsaid wheel, means mounting saidlatch member for translatory movement with respect to the carrier, and a spring acting between the carrier and the latch member to urge the latter in one direction.

3. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes, or the like, said lighter having a body providing a fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a flint, an abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the flint, a snuffer carrier pivotally attached to the body adjacent said wheel, a latch member attached to the carrier to move pivotally therewith, manually engageable means on said latch member adjacent said wheel, and means connecting said latch member to the carrier for translatory movement relative thereto.

4. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes, or the like, said lighter having a body providing a fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a flint, an abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the flint, a snuifer carrier pivoted to the body on the axis of said wheel, and a latch member movably associated with the carrier, said member being provided with registering slots within which said axis is received.

5. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes, or the like, said lighter having a body providing a fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a int, an abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the flint, a pin for rotatably mounting said wheel, a snuffer carrier, a latch member movably associated with said carrier and both said carrier and said latch member having ears provided with opening-s in which said pin is received, and the openings in the ears of said latch member being elongated to permit translatory movement of said member on said pin.

6. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes, or the like, said lighter having a body providing a fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a flint, an abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the flint, a pin for rotatably mounting said wheel, a snuifer carrier, a latch member movably associated with said carrier and both said carrier and said latch member having ears provided with openings in which said pin is received, the openings in the ears of said latch member being elongated to permit translatory movement of said member on said pin, and a spring-pressed snuier cap carried by said carrier.

7. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes, or the like, said lighter having a body providing a fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a int, an abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the flint, a pin for rotatably mounting said wheel, a snuffer carrier, a latch member movably yassociated with said carrier and both said carrier and said latch member having ears provided with openings in which said pin is received, the openings in the ears of said latch member being elongated to permity translatory movement of said member on said pin, 1a spring-pressed snuffer cap carried by said carrier, a keeper on the body, and spring means for urging said latch member into engagement with the keeper. f

8. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes or the like, said lighter having a body portion providing a fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a int, an abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the flint, a pivotally mounted snuier carrier, a latch member associated with said carrier, said carrier including a box-like member having spaced ears pivoted to the body, a snuffer carried by said boxlike member, and said latch member being connected to the carrier for relative reciprocatory movement and having a projecting part provided with a slot to receive the axis of the wheel.

9. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes or the like, said lighter having a body portion providing a fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a flint, an abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the flint, a pivotally mounted snuffer carrier, a latch member associated with said carrier, said carrier including a box-like member having spaced ears pivoted to the body, a snuifer carried by said box-like member, and said latch member being connected to the carrier for relative reciprocatory movement and having a projecting part provided with a slot to receive the pivot of the carrier.

10. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes or the like, said lighter having a body portion providing a fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a flint, an abradant Wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the int, a pivotally mounted snuffer carrier, a latch member associated with said carrier, said carrier including a box-like member having spaced ears pivoted to the body, a snuffer carried by said box-like member, and said latch member being connected to the carrier for relative reciprocatory movement and having a projecting part provided with a slot to receive the pivot of the carrier, and the carrier pivot coinciding with the axis of the abradant wheel.

11. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes or the like, said lighter having a body portion providingra fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a flint, an abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the flint, a pivotally mounted snuffer carrier, a latch member associated with said carrier, said carrier including a box-like member having spaced ears projecting therefrom and said ears being pivoted to the body on the axis of the abradant wheel, said latch member having a forward part embracing the boxlike member of the carrier and having spaced ears abutting those of the carrier, and the ears of the latch member having elongated slots to receive the pivot of the carrier.

12. A lighter for cigars, cigarettes or the like, said lighter having a body portion providing a fuel chamber, means on said body for supporting a flint, an ,abradant wheel rotatably carried by the body in operative relation to the int, a pivotally mounted snuffer carrier, a latch member associated with said carrier, said carrier including a box-like member having spaced ears projecting therefrom and said ears being pivoted to the body on the axis of the abradant wheel, said latch member having a forward part embracing the box-like member of the carrier and having spaced ears abutting those of the carrier, the ears of the latch member having elongated slots to receive the pivot of the carrier, and a spring reacting between the box-like member of said carrier and a part of said latch member and urging said latch member to latching position.

BERNARD L. POLKOSNIK, 

